The hum of the car's engine filled the silence, a low, steady sound that somehow made the tension in the air even heavier. Snow-covered trees blurred past the tinted windows, their skeletal branches clawing at the sky like silent witnesses to my predicament.
I sat rigidly in my seat, my hands balled into fists on my lap. The leather beneath me was soft, too comfortable for the sheer panic racing through my veins. Every fiber of my being screamed at me to do something, to fight, to run—but where? We were in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by endless white and towering trees. Even if I jumped out of the car, I wouldn't make it far in this freezing wilderness.
Still, the thought of just sitting here, doing nothing, made my skin crawl.
I turned my gaze toward Anderson, who sat in the front seat, his posture perfectly at ease. He hadn't looked back at me once, his focus entirely on the road ahead. His presence alone filled the car with a quiet authority, as if there was no question about who was in control here.
Across from me, Aaron sat with one leg crossed over the other, his elbow resting on the door as he absentmindedly tapped his fingers against his knee. He wasn't watching me, not directly, but I could feel his awareness—like he was waiting to see if I would finally crack.
Alex, on the other hand, was completely unbothered. He lounged beside me, stretching out as if we were just on some casual road trip. His arms were behind his head, a smirk playing on his lips as he stared out the window.
The silence was unbearable.
I rolled my eyes and sighed dramatically. "So... where exactly are we going? Or do I have to solve that mystery myself?"
Anderson didn't react at first, his gaze still locked on the road. But then, without turning, he spoke.
"Home."
The same answer as before. A vague, empty word that told me nothing.
I let out a sarcastic chuckle. "Oh, right. 'Home.' That explains everything. Silly me for even asking."
Aaron finally looked at me then, his dark eyes unreadable. "You'll see soon enough."
I scoffed, leaning back against the seat. "Oh, fantastic. Another beautifully vague response. You should consider a career in politics."
Aaron just sighed, as if I was exhausting him. "Mia, you'll get your answers when it's time. Right now, just sit back and—"
"Accept that I've been kidnapped and dragged to Russia by a bunch of strangers?" I cut in, my voice dripping with sarcasm.
Aaron's expression didn't change. "First of all, we're not strangers—we're your family" He leaned back, completely at ease. "And second, I was going to say relax, but sure, if you prefer to put it that way."
Relax? Relax?!
I let out a sharp laugh, shaking my head. "Right. Because that makes perfect sense."
Alex chuckled beside me. "You ask a lot of questions for someone in your position."
I shot him a glare, crossing my arms. "And you give a lot of useless answers. Useless like you."
Alex's smirk faltered for a fraction of a second before he let out a low whistle. "Ouch." He clutched his chest mockingly. "That one actually hurt a little."
Aaron shook his head, muttering under his breath.
Anderson, however, finally spoke again, his tone calm but firm.
"Enough."
Just one word, and the tension in the car shifted. Alex leaned back without another comment, and Aaron simply returned to gazing out the window. Even I felt my spine stiffen, my words catching in my throat.
The air grew thick with unspoken warnings, a reminder of just how little power I had here.
I turned toward the window instead, watching as the trees became denser, the road narrowing as we ventured deeper into unfamiliar territory.
I had no idea where we were going.
But one thing was clear.
Wherever "home" was, I wasn't going to like it.